Steam-actuated valve



2' Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

' G.. W, PRICE.

STBAMAGTUATBD VALVE. No.129o54. Patentednem 18,1883,

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llllm (;No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet G. W. PRICE.

` STEAM A'GTUATBD VALVE..

No. 290,354. Patented Deo. 18,1883.

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NITRO STATES PATENT FFICE.

GEORGE w. BRIOE, OE BALTIMORE, AssiGNoR TO BERNARD N. BAKER, OE BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLAND.k

' STEAM ACTUAT ED VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,354, dated December 18, 1883,

.Application filed April 2, 1883. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. PRICE', of the city of Baltimore, and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam-Actuated Valves and Mode ofActuating the Same, also a novel reversing attachment which may be combined therewith, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of the steam chest and valves, and showing its connection with the cylinder. Fig. 2 the same view with valves at the opposite end of the steam-chest. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the steamchest, showing the valves and reversing attachment combined therewith. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan or top view of the same. Fig. 5 is a sectional endvview of the steam-chest and valve H, cut through the center of the steam-port F. Fig. 6 is asectional end view of the steam-chest and valve K, cut through the exhaust-outlet at c.

The construction of my apparatus and its mode of operation I will proceed to describe. Let A, Figs. l and-2, represent the cylinder of a steam-engine; B, the piston, and C the piston-rod. Near the ends of the cylinder, but removed therefrom a distance greater than the width ofthe piston, Ihave varranged two outlets, D and D, communicating with therespective .ends of the steam-chest E. The exact size of these steam-outlets will vary, of course, with the size and capacity of the engine. They need only be made of sufficient dimensions to provide steam enough to actuate the valves in the steam-chest. It will be seen that when the steam enters the cylinder on the side where the letter A appears on the drawings, Figs. l and 2, and forces the piston B to the other end and beyond the opening D,a portion of the steam will escape through this aperture D and proceed through the pipe to the steam-chest. The same result will obtain through the aperture and connecting-pipe D when the'piston is forced to the opposite end of the cylinder. The steam thus passing through the passages D and D, entering the steam-chest at opposite ends with each successive stroke of the piston, is used to actuate the valves by direct action, as I will explain.

The steam-pipe F, leading from the boiler, enters the steam-chest, as shown.

G is the exhaust-pipe.

. H H H is the main valve, constructed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The partition H of the Y valve, formed with its sides parallel. is located centrally between the ends ofthe valve H and H, forming the passages h h. The width of the partition H is regulated by the length of 50 tance between the openings communicating with the cylinder through the pipes L and L. The valve is so constructed that when steam is entering the cylinder through the pipe L the inner side of the valve H will be in line with the steam-pipe F and the outlet-opening in pipe L, thus making direct communication from the steam-pipe F to the cylinder, as shown in Fig. l. Ihisvalve H H H may be cast solid on the valve-stem and cut out in proper shape, or it may be keyed or otherwise 48O secured to the valve-stem, if desired.

I is the valve-stem, upon which, at each end, are arranged the valves K and K. Thesevalves are not rigidly fixed or secured to the valvestem, but are constructed with a hole in the '85 center, through which the valve-stem passes loosely.` Upon the valve-stem is formed a shoulder, a a', and a nut or collar, b b. The

Vvalves are actuated by the shoulders c a. in

one direction, and by the nuts or collars b b in the other.`

L and L are pipes connecting the steam chest' and cylinder together, and serve the double purpose of conducting the steam to the cylinder from the steam-pipe F, and also from the cylinder to the exhausupipe G after it has performed its work.

c c" are outlets communicating from the steam-chest to the exhaust-pipe G.

The valve is slotted at M, Fig. 3, so as to Ioo admit the end of the lever O. This lever is pivoted at I to a cap projecting from the lid The distance 65 or cover of the steam-chest. To the top of this cap one end of a spring is attached, marked R in the drawings. The other end of this spring is attached to the arm of the lever projecting below the fulcrum I).

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The steam from the boiler enters the steamchest E through the steam-pipe F, and, passing through the steam-chest between the. valves H' and H", enters the pipe L and is conducted to the cylinder behind the piston, as shown in Fig. 1. The steam thus introduced forces the piston to the opposite end of the cylinder, while the tube and passage D, leading to the steam-chest, is closed by the valve K. The piston is now forcing the exhaust-steam through the pipe L,which enters the steam-chest, and, passing between the valves H and H", escapes through the exhaust-pipe G. When the pistion has passed the opening D,a portion of the steam enters this opening and passes to the steam-chest behind the main valve, the valve K' being perforated to allow the steam to pass freely while the outlet c' is closed by the valve K'. This end of the steam-chest is thus filled with steam and forces the valve-stem I, with its valve H, H', and H", in the opposite direction, holding it until the collar b' on the valve-stem I comes in contact with the valve K', when this Valve also is moved forward, opening the outlet c' and allowing the steam to escape through the exhaust-pipe, at the same time closing the passage D', and preventing the entrance of steam to this end of the steamchest. V'Vhen the main valve H H' H" is thrown to the other end of the steam-chest, as above described, the steam, entering the steamchest through the steam-pipe F, now passes to the other end of the cylinder through the valve H and H' and the pipe L', while the exhaust-steam escapes through the pipe L, as shown in Fig. 2, and the operation continues identical with that described at the other end. It will thus be seen that with each successive stroke of the piston the valves are actuated by the direct action of the steam, alternately opening and closing the ports and automatically regulating the entrance and escape of steam as required.

The apparatus as above described needs no additional arrangement to constitute a complete working machine. It may, however, sometimes happen that the steam will not throw the valves to the full end of the stroke. This will be understood by a reference to the drawings. For example, the piston B having passed the aperture D, and the steam having entered the steam-chest through this aperture7 the steam exerts its pressure against the end ofthe steamchest and the end H" of the valve, forcing the valve until the collar b, coming in contact with the valve K, moves this valve forward until it closes the passage D. at the same time opening the outlet c, from which the steam escapes. This position is shown in Fig. l.- At this stage it sometimes occurs that the valves have not traveled to the end of the stroke, the steam exhausting before the stroke is completed. An effectual remedy for this is shown in the arrangement of the reversing attachment, Figs. 3 and 5. W'hen the steam has forced the valves beyond the center,the tension of the spring It is exerted upon the lower arm of the lever O, pressing the point of the lever against the wall of the slot M in the valve H', and forcing the valve-stem, with its valves, to the full end of the stroke. The tension of this spring R is eX- erted at each side as the lever passes the center, forcing the valves home in the direction of their stroke at the time. This reversing attachment I desire to make a distinct feature of my invention.

It will be seen that while the engine is running it is only necessary to hold the lever by its handle in order to stop the movement of the valves; then by pushing or pulling it in the opposite direction the movement of the piston will be reversed, and the engine will continue to run in the direction in which it is started. It may thus be reversed instantly, while the lever O may at all times be used for the ordinary purposes of a starting-bar, for warming the cylinder, starting or stopping the engine, and giving direction to its motion.

It will also be seen that the main valve may bemade square or circular in form, or in any other form desired; but if circular it would be advisable to construct a keyway or other device to prevent it from turning. The valvestem may also be made, if desired, to run through stuffing-boxes in the ends of the steamchest; but this is not necessary.

In order to effectually prevent the valve from turning and at the same time provide against leakage through the valve by wear and friction, I have constructed it in the shape and form shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The steamchest, as shown in those figures, is troughshaped-that is to say, wider at the top and tapering downwardly toward the bottom. The valve is constructed to fit snugly in this troughshaped steam-chest, so that as it wears away by friction and use it always conforms to the shape of the bearing and remains steam-tight.

To provide against leakage over the top of the valve, I have arranged grooves in the lid of the steamchest, as shown at s, Fig. 3. These grooves cross the lid from side to side, and in them are fitted closely metallic pieces T, which rest upon the top of the valve and remain stationary while the valve is moving backward and forward. As the valve wears away below, the metallic pieces follow and pre- Vent the steam from leaking through over the top of the valve.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi l. The steam-chest E, provided with the steam-pipe F, ports v and v', pipes L and L', and the valves H, H', and H", constructed as shown, in combination with the valves K and K', substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

2. The steam-chest E, provided with the IOO IIO

valves H, H', and H", and the valves K and K', constructed as shown and described, in combination with the shoulders a a' and collars bb', substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The steam-chest E, provided with the valves H, H', and H", valves K and K', constructed as shown, the ports o and o', pipes L and L', shoulders a a', collars b and b', steaminlets D and D', and escape-outlets c and c', arranged and operating substantially as described.

4C. In a steam-engine, the following elements, in combination: the steam-cylinder A, piston B, steam-outlets D D', steam-chest E, steampipe F, exhaust-pipe G, valves H H' H", valves K K', shoulders a a', collars b b', escape-outlets c c', and pipes L L', arranged and operating substantially as described.

5. The steam-chest E, provided with the valves K and K' constructed as shown in com-y lets to the exhaust-pipe at or near the end of 25 the stroke, substantially as described.

6. The steam-chest E, provided with the reversing attachment consisting of the following elements, in combination: the pivoted lever O, slot M in the valve H', and spring R, attached as shown and described, whereby the engine is started, stopped, and reversed, substantially as described.

GEORGE W. PRICE.

Witnesses:

SAML. I. HoY'r, JOHN E. SEMMEs. 

